Has it ever been addressed on-panel why Giles is so much more magically proficient than he used to be? I know he always had a slight aptitude for magic, but he never conjured up force fields back in Sunnydale.

On a separate note, Isaacs' art and the writing this year have me full of confidence for the shape of Season Ten.

I think the adult Giles we knew in seasons 1-8 had become very wary of his own magic because of his experiences in his Ripper days, especially the situation with Eyghon. Now that he gets a do-over on his youth and Eyghon is no longer a threat, he feels comfortable opening up his magical abilities more.